Yukihiro Murai

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“Art must be dramatic.”

Karura - MM.pen on paper board 14 x 10 in.

Japanese contemporary artist, Yukihiro Murai was born in Nagoya City and today lives in Uji City Kyoto-fu. He graduated from the Kyoto University of Art & Design in 1978 and held his first exhibition in Kyoto in 1979. In 1980 the artist moved to Tokyo and a decade later was accepted to major public exhibitions, including NIKI Exhibition, with the Japan Print Association. He has been awarded by Fuji Art Association / FAA and has exhibited at Funabashi Seibu department store, Nikke Colton Plaza, and Tsudanuma Parco, as well as abroad in Budapest and Solymar.

The artist was met with a series of tragic events starting in 2008 with the loss of his girlfriend to cancer, and his mother’s being diagnosed with dementia. In 2011 Yukihiro was himself diagnosed with cerebral infarction and hospitalized for over drinking and depression, to be discharged a month later. In July of that year, after visiting the temple at Nara "Shin Yakushiji" the artist was enormously impressed by the sculptures which led him to wake up again to art. In 2012, Yukihiro signed a contract with a New York gallery and more shows followed in 2013 and 2014.